While it can seem overwhelming, there are many resources such as NeighborWorks there to remind you: YOU CAN DO IT!
With savvy saving habits, discipline, and the desire to succeed, you can successfully own your own home!
Find out how by clicking on the steps below …
STEP 1
Decide Whether You’re Ready, Willing, and Able to Own a Home
 If you are here, it is likely you are in the process of, or have already completed this step!
Buying a home, however, is not like purchasing a bicycle or a TV, even a car; buying a home is a HUGE investment into your future. It will require a regular mortgage payment for many years to come.
You must make the conscious decision:
“I am ready to invest into my future my purchasing a home; I am willing and able to take on the responsibilities that will come with being a home owner.”
If you can confidently say this, you’re ready to go on to Step 2.
STEP 2
Contact NeighborWorks and Your Tribal Housing Authority
If you’ve decided you’re ready to buy a home, you should know you’re not in this process alone!
NeighborWorks provides personal counseling tailored to whatever you need to know about the home buying process, regardless of your financial history. We will also enroll you in Homebuyer Education classes taught by experts.
Your local Tribal Housing Authority can also provide information on tribal specific housing. There may be housing programs on or off reservations that they can introduce you to.
Contact NeighborWorks and your Tribal Housing Authority as soon as you know you are ready to purchase a home!
STEP 3
Complete Homebuyer Education Classes
In order to qualify for many home buying assistance programs, successful completion of homebuyer education is necessary. It is important that the homebuyer education class you take meets national quality standards. NeighborWorks classes provide information on:
- Budgeting
- Finding a home
- Choosing a lender
- Insurance
- Mortgages
- Home maintenance
All of the above skills are necessary to purchase a home. Learning to save, budget, access loans and funding, and maintain your home will enable you to become a successful homeowner.
Current printable list of homebuyer education providers in Montana
If you have any questions, contact NeighborWorks at (406) 761-5861 or email info@nwmt.org
STEP 4
Explore Your Financing Options
Once you have completed Homebuyer education, you are ready to explore different financing and loan packages.
Do some research on financing options navigate to the sub links above and read about the programs you may qualify for. Depending on your employment status, financial background, income level, family size, and racial identification, you may be eligible for different programs.
After you have researched some of the financing options on your own, take your HBE certificate to NeighborWorks and to your Tribal Housing Authority to get pre-qualified for loans.
STEP 5
Reach a Buy/Sell Agreement
When you have found a house that you would like to turn into your home, it is time to reach an agreement. First, have an inspection of the house you intend to buy. If everything passes satisfactorily, work with the realtor to finalize a buy/sell agreement that you can afford.
STEP 6
Complete the Loan Process and Move In to Your Home!
With the inspection completed and the sale agreement reached, you just have to finalize your loan with your local lender, and…MOVE IN!
STEP 7
Foreclosure Prevention
Once you’ve purchased your home and moved in, it may seem like the process has been completed.
But, now that you have your home, you need to KEEP your home! Being a homeowner, you can do what YOU want to do with the place: get pets, hammer nails in the wall, change the carpet.
However, you need to make sure that you stay current on your payments and avoid foreclosure. Learn more at NeighborWorks’ Foreclosure Intervention.
Make sure that you budget, save, and maintain your home. Buying a home is the easy part; maintaining your home is what takes work!
Montana Homeowners tell what they like about being homeowners.
"I really wished I had bought sooner! It’s hard to believe over $30,000 went to rent, to nowhere at all. I look at homeownership as a secret savings account, a great investment for sure!”
“The privacy is phenomenal. You always have your own safe haven — if you choose to lock your doors, no one can bother you or intrude on your time or ask to come in and ‘check on something’.”
“I can do whatever I want—own pets, paint the walls,
tear out the ugly carpet—and not have to ask any
landlord
for permission!"
“The best thing is owning a sandbox that the kids can safely dig in, all the way to China if they want, and then
fill it with water and take a mud bath!”
“There is a sense of safety and completeness in
owning a home, and absolutely an increased sense
of financial security.” |
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Montana Wyoming
Tribal Housing Coalition
The purpose of the information located here is to provide information regarding housing resources available to the Native communities of Montana and Wyoming. This portion of the website is dedicated to the Tribal Housing leaders.
There are many programs and options for funding housing. Governmental agencies, such as the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), USDA Rural Development (RD), and Montana Board of Housing (MBOH), offer many creative financing alternatives. Nonprofit organizations such as NeighborWorks are also available for technical and financial funding options.
Besides these organizations that are valuable resources, the unity and creativity of the Tribal Housing entities in Montana and Wyoming are vital to providing affordable tribal housing. Each tribe has implemented its own unique housing programs. Sharing these techniques is a great way to find as many innovative solutions to finding housing as possible.
On this website, you can share success stories, or share concerns about projects that did not go as planned in the Forum. Also, browse the links on the left side of the page to explore housing opportunities.
“Don’t try to recreate the wheel; there are many long existing tribal housing programs that have made many mistakes and have learned from those mistakes, and there are people who are willing to assist.” - Jason Adams, Salish and Kootenai Housing Authority |
